You're safe if you've got an existing device

A new Library of Congress ruling will take effect this Saturday, Jan. 26, making it illegal for anyone but a wireless provider to unlock your cell phone for use on another network.

The ruling, issued back in October, was delayed by a 90-day transition period which expires this weekend, at which time consumers will be in violation of the law for having their device unlocked by an unauthorized party.

The law is part of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which offers protection for carriers selling heavily subsidized handsets on contract from having such devices unlocked without permission.

Legacy exception

The ruling is intended to protect handsets purchased on or after Jan. 26, but the Library of Congress did make an exception for handsets currently in use.

Those so-called "legacy" handsets are described as "used (or perhaps unused) phones previously purchased or otherwise acquired by a consumer," and can be unlocked by anyone without skirting the law.

The DMCA is vague on how carriers might actually enforce the law - while the lengthy document makes it clear who is in violation, it fails to detail what penalties the infringing party might be subject to.

Of course, there's another way to get around the law: buy a factory unlocked handset, which typically costs double or triple that of the exact same device with two-year commitment from your wireless carrier.